Food holder and carving aid



NOV- 28, 1961 J. P. JORDAN 3,010,500

Foon HOLDER AND oARvING .un

Filed March 17, 1958 Z 2 Sheets-$11891. l

IN VEN TOR.

Hauff .5 l /um Y JA NOV- 28, 1961 J. P. JORDAN 3,010,500

FooD HOLDER AND CARVING AID 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 17, 1958 INVENTOR.

Patented 1 2 3,010,500 FGURE l is a plan view of the preferred form of one FQOD HOLDER CA RV1NG AID ,4 e, of the elements of the invention; John PhlllP Jordan, iVIumeaPOllS, Minn-i aSSlgnOlPf fifty v FIGURE 2 ,is a sectional view taken along the line percent 'to Hyland Industries, Minneapolis, Minn. 2 2 of FIGURE 1;

Filed Mar' i7 195s ser No? 721794 5` FIGURE 3 is a bottom view of the element shown in 1 Claim. (Cl. 146-216) FIGURE 1. I

This invention relates generally to an improved type Y FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along the lines of holder; in particular it contemplates a novel means of 4-4 of FIGURE l; i solving a problem that has existed for quite some time, g FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the preferred form of viz., the problem of securely restraining a roast or fowl the other element of the invention; with one hand while leaving the other hand free to carve FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken along lines 6 6 the meat into smaller portions. Y of FIGURE 5;

Prior efforts in household and cooking art have all FIGURE 7 is a bottom viewA of the element shown in been concerned with attempts at improving the well- FIGURE 5;

known carving fork. While the state of the carving fork l5 FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken along lines 8-8 art has advanced to some degree it is still characterized of FIGURE 5;

by shortcomings inherent in the nal product, usually a FIGURE 9 is a perspective view showing the preferred two-pronged fork having a pivoted thumb rest combined form 0f the iIlVeIliOn iIl actual 118e; and

with a skewer to facilitate removal therefrom the meat. FIGURE 10 is a perspective View illustrating an alter- Any one familiar with meat carving is -aware of the native fOIm 0f the iIlVeIliOIldiiculty encountered by the use of long slender tines Turning 110W t0 a ccnsidefiicn 0f Ithe drawings., and imbedded in a mass of loosely knit cooked meat, Bemore particularly to FIGURES l to 8, it can be seen sides the constant threat of having the meat fall 'apart that the invention in its preferred form, consists of two completely, there is also the danger of Iforcibly contacting elements, ie, 'finger plate A and thumb Plaie B FIG- the underlying plate surface with the tines of the fork at URES l to 4 illustrate the structural characteristics of an angle resulting in the unexpected presence of a roast Plate .A While FIGURES 5 to 8 include detailed 'Views or chicken in a diners lap, A Y illustrating plate B. A third element, connecting plates Accordingly, it is a broad object of the present inven- A and B, While n0t ShOWn, iS Within the purview 0f the tion to provide an improved means of holding feed invention and could consist of a plastic web, beaded products; 30 chain, grease resistant nylon or some other heat and dirt Another primary object of the present invention is to resistant material suitable for securing elements A and B provide an improved meat carving aid; 1 together. For the sake of simplicity and to reduce the Still another object of he present invention is to proinvention to the least number ofrequired parts, the ex- Vide a food holding vand carving aid which isnot only emplary embodiment thereof is shown without such ya connecting piece.

easy to manufacture but'is also pleasing in exterior de- Y sign and shape; Finger plate A as well as thumb plate B are preferably A further object of the A'present invention is to provide molded of a suitable heat resisting plastic material such a meat holder and carving aid which grips the meat at as polymethyl styrene, melamine resin, melamine-phenolic numerous points to prevent shredding of the meat; 4'0' laminates and the like. It is also apparent that plates A Another object of the present invention is to provide in and B could be fabricated of metallic materials such as die a. meat holder and carving aid means for insulating the cast aluminum and Other readily formed 2110S/S- hand and thumb from heat and from. grease and Ythe like Finger plate A is characterized byv a substantially oval encountered in cooked meats; shape as shown in FIGURE l. The top edges 10 may A still further object of the present-'invention is to be formed to resemble a series of connecting arcuate provide a compact and easily cleaned meat holder; surfaces having a. truncated lower portion `12. The top Yet another object of the present invention is to provide suffuce 14 has a Slight cl'OfWn (Sec FIGURE 4) and iS a two-piece meat holder that can be easily held to provide Scored With a Series 0f Parallel gi'OCVeS 15. eXiending a natural means of restraining roasts and the like from aCI'OSS the face thereof t0. Provide 2- n0n-Skld Surfaceslipping; Surface 14 is also large enough to protect the hand from Another object of the present invention is to provide a a camu? kmfe- Extending uPWaJ-"diy fIOfn iup Surface two-piece meat holder having a plurality of spurs for 14 and Integra-1 therewith 1S a handle 20 having a 'Chin firmly gripping apiece of meat; lower web section 21 terminating in an enlarged head A further object of the present invention is to provide Portion 22- Hazndle 2 0 1S located adlfcent truncated Pcfa. mear helder and Carving aid designed to effectuate its tion 12 to provide suitable contact with the palm of the purpose with the least possible effort combined with the hand; Molded in'gi'aiiy Wil-h TOP Surface 14 iS a deutmost Safety; pending wall 24 extending downwardly from surface 14 Another object of the present invention is to provide at a Siigh'f angle 3 5 Shown in FIGURES 2 l0 4: and lef' finger and thumb engageable means for holding a piece mmatmg m a honzqntal annular Shaped bottom Surface of meat; 26. The lower portlon of plate A 1s hollowed out as at Another object of the present invention is to provide 25 to provide the annular shaped surface 26 and to allow 4 dissipation of heat as well as to facilitate the flow of a two pieced pronged food holder having finger and thumb meat juices, etc., therethrough.

engageable means and being connected together to pro- Arranged in the center of annular surface 26 is a p1u de a umtafy structure rality of closely spaced cone-shaped spurs 30 integrally other oblects and advantages f the Rufen/On Wm 'Pe' 65 attached to surface 26 and depending downwardly therecome apparent from the following detalled descrlption from in a Vertical mannen The spurs 30 have relatively taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in sha1-p points and .may extend in the Order of 1/8 to 1,41 Which iS ShOWn e Preferred and nu alienaive enihcdiinch from surface 26. `Arnple space is left between adment of the invention by way of illustration only. jacent spurs 30 to allow cleaning, the preferred distance In the drawings: between cone centers being around 1A inch while the 3 4 cone diameter at the intersection thereof with surface native form of the invention wherein a plastic finger 2,6 is about 5%2 inch. piece Dis provided which is connected by means of strap Handle is preferably symmetrical about the longi- 50 to thumb piece E. In this form finger piece D and tudinal center line thereof. The head portion 22, which thumb piece E are formed with a finger slot 52 and a rests upon web 21 is located'above surface 14 a distance 5 thumb slot 54 respectivelyl" Their lower surfaces 56 suflicient to permit a finger to lit on each side of web have imbedded therein a plurality of spurs 58 similar 21 and under the lower surface 21A of head portion 22. to spurs 30 and 44 of the preferred embodiment. Spurs Thumb plate B, although similar in outline to linger 58 may be of metal or they may be molded integrally plate A, is about one half lthe size of finger plate A. Its with the body ofV pieces D and E. general features include arcuate edges and a truncated 10 While the device has been described in relation to its lower edge 32. The top surface 34 thereof is substanusefulness in holding meats during the carving thereof, tially flat and is scored with a series of parallel grooves it is of course understood that other uses are available. 36 similar to the grooves 16 vin linger plate A. Means Without purporting to be exhaustive such uses could infor engaging the thumb is provided integrally with top clude eating corn on the c ob, holding broiled lobsters', surface 34 consisting of a pair of inwardlyl curved com- 15 etc. i plementary lugs 3S extending upwardly from surface 34. Although the invention has been described in its pre- ALugs 38 are adapted to receive a thumb and are Symferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is metrically positioned with respect to the center of thumb to be understood that the present disclosure of the preplate B. e ferred form has been made only by way of example, and Thumb plate B further includes a downwardly de- 20 that numerous changes in the details of construction and pending annular Iwall 40 inclined at a slight angle and the combinations and arrangements adverted to may be lterminating in horizontal annular bottom surface 42. A made without departing from the spirit and scope of the plurality of cone shaped spurs 44 identical in shape to invention as hereinafter claimed. those found in finger plate A are molded integrally with I claim: surface 42 to provide a gripping surface. 25 A meat holder consisting of a rigid body, a sharply Lugs 38 are located adjacent edge 32 to'allow thumb defined generally vertical depending skirt integral with -plate B to rest securely against the thumb in a manner said'body, said skirt having a lower surface substantially similar to ringer plate A. The bottom surface 35 0f parallel with said body and forming therewith a recessed thumb plate B is recessed to provide insulation from the chamber beneath said body, said chamber having a welleffects of heat and to allow the dissipation of meat juices 30 dened inner wall and a ceiling, and a series of short therefrom. spaced generally conical relatively sharp rigid spurs in- FIGURE 9 illustrates the manner in which the pretegral with and projecting from the lower surface of said ferred embodiment ofthe invention is gut into opera skirtl tion. As shown,'iin er plate A'is hel by means o f handle 20 between thi third nger and the fourth linger 35 References Cited m the me 0f hls Patent with the truncated edge 12 resting against the palm of UNITED STATES PATENTS the hand. The lower surfaces of the fingers rest on theY 19 288 Dickerman Feb 9 1858 top surface 14'of plate A and are prevented from slip- 172509 Shepard "Jan '18 1876 ping by grooves 16. rIhumb plate B -isheld through :lugs 1 417619 Male 'May 30 1922 38 by the thumb of the hand with edge 32 thereof corn-V 40 765623 Ness June 24: 1930 fofably residing at the humb OU- 041;262 vSchweibold May 19I 1936 The meat (a I'OaSI- S ShOWl'l) may then be firmly 2177397 Woodrow Oct 24, 1939 gripped between plates A and B without fear of slippage 4953162 Morfesi 1am 31, 1950 or shreddingof the meat as it is cut. The latter is par- 607,064 Sullivan et aL Aug ,19 1952 ticularly important when the meat is well done or eX- 45 2 616 745 Alston N0v 4 1952 tremely tender. e

It is also apparent that the invention may be used to FOREIGN PATENTS turn meat over` in the panor to lift itbodily therefrom. 7,516 Great Britain Apr. 28, 1910 In fact, any time large portions of meat are handled may. of 1909 present an opportunity to use the device. 269,830 Great Britain Apr. 28, 1927 The perspective view of FIGURE 10 shows an alter-y 388,860 Great Britain Mar. 9, 1933 

